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MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: CLEOPATRA
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CUBA, GUANTÁNAMO DETENTION CENTRE - The US military are well established in Cuba. They even have a McDonalds burger restaurant, convenient to a Naval helipad, to keep interrogators happy while they waterboard detainees without trial, and pull out their finger nails.
<<<<<< GUANTÁNAMO BAY
GUANTÁNAMO BAY, CUBA - MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: RESCUE CLEOPATRA
Dusk fell, darkness shrouded the coast of Cuba. This is what John had been waiting for.
"Hal, full stealth mode, sea anchors, the works ........ if you please."
"Compliance."
The hulls of the Swann were flooded, lowering the vessel into the water, so reducing the visible profile of the ship. Then the solar wings were tilted down as low as they could go below horizontal. Almost touching the surface of the sea. In this position, the vessel was invisible to radar. John guessed they'd have the camp looking out for intruders, while they had such a high value asset in captivity.
The Swann came in from the east, heading to Kittery Beach, panel on to the coastal sensors.
"Hal, full actions stations. Let me know the moment you see any activity that gets in my way."
"Compliance."
"I'll be coming in hot, with a guest. Dan, full support please."
"Nothing but. Suit and underwater scooter and scuba gear all ready."
John smiled at Dan. "Thanks Dan."
He pulled on the tight fitting battle suit that Dan and Hal had crafted for him, then deftly slipped down the boarding hatch, into the surprisingly warm Caribbean waters, jetting to shore just below the surface, frogman style, with the help of the electric power scooter, and sub-aqua breather.
On reaching the shore, John scurried up to a weeded area, and stashed the scooter and breathing sets. Noting their position, for the return run.
The Elizabeth Swann is kept on standby in stealth mode, all hands on red alert, conveniently anchored offshore for a fast retreat.
John slices through the steel fence wire, gaining access to the compound, and rushes the CIA's safe house, engaging the electroflourescent camouflage function, making him all but invisible. He disables the military personnel one after the other with nylon cable ties, without inflicting any terminal casualties. He has access to all of their security cameras. It is almost too easy.
The night staff were caught completely off guard and unprepared.
He goes through the guards like a knife through butter in Rambo, 'First Blood,' fashion. They do all they can to kill him. John is not only superhuman in terms of strength and speed, but is also wearing the lightweight aramid-kevlar composite, bullet-proof armour, so carefully tailored for his frame. He is Captain America for real, with Batman's suit - so no need for a shield. As long as he is careful and moves fast.
Cleopatra is located locked in a cell. John kicks the door in to effect a rescue. The frame gives way. Once inside, John sees that she is bruised and cut. But freed of her shackles, she can walk - just.
"You're doing good," he lied.
She gasps in relief. "My gladiator." Involuntarily shedding a tear of joy.
John throws the slightly limp Cleopatra over his shoulder, for speed. She is still somewhat under the weather from being drugged and beaten; so gratefully accepts his help.
They head for the cut in the fencing. A guard has just found the breach and is about to call it in, when he sees stars and slumps to the ground. John crept up at high speed and hit him a powerful chop to the neck, then nylon cuffed him.
"Okay beautiful, time to get wet."
"I could do with a bath," gasped the former Egyptian Queen.
"Asses milk?"
"How did you know that?" said Cleopatra.
"I'm going to introduce you to a gadget that allows you to breathe underwater. Trust me?"
"That sounds like magic, but I'm with you implicitly."
John puts a demand valve in Cleopatra's mouth, halting her speech. "Mmmmmmm, mmmm, mmmmm."
"Just breathe as normal."
After a brief moment of familiarity, the Pharaoh queen sucks in through the uncomfortable rubber mouthpiece. Finding she can breathe, though having to suck harder than normal; somewhat mechanically. And very noisy.
"Don't try to talk. Just give me a thumbs up, if you are happy to go. It will be a short journey."
John showed her his thumb upright, fist clenched.
Cleopatra had no idea what 'go' meant, but she waved a thumb in the air, biting hard on the flexible mouthpiece.
"I'll need to borrow the mouthpiece occasionally, but I will give it back to you, to catch your next breath. It's called buddy breathing. You have to 'trust' your buddy. A 'buddy' is a very, very, very, good friend. Your life depends on them, and they on you."
Cleopatra nodded, not fully understanding. But she liked John and trusted him more than anything in the world. He made her heart flutter.
"So, we are now buddies, and here we go."
John grinned, knowing she'd feel some disorientation. Cleopatra noted the grin and braced herself. John carried her again, walking into the sea crouched somewhat, also carrying the water scooter.
Then he launched them both, and dived below the sea surface. Cleopatra's mumbles were lost in the bubbles, as they whooshed along silently. John grabbed the demand valve from Cleopatra. She let go. He took a couple of good breaths, then handed it back. She clamped her mouth onto it, gratefully. Rubber never tasted so good. Suddenly realising that while she had the magical demand valve, he did not.
John steered to the Elizabeth Swann, using his all singing and dancing diving watch. A minute and a half later, Cleopatra pushed the demand valve into his mouth. John grabbed her tighter, to say thanks. She squeezed back.
Again he breathed deep, a couple of breaths then returned the mouthpiece. He could see the Swann as a blur, so surfaced to come in on the stern. John hauled Cleopatra up the boarding ladder, urging her to climb.
They both ended up on the open rear deck, laughing. Very wet and now a bit cold.
"Hal, take her out to sea please. As quick as you can. Stealth mode."
"Okay skipper," replied the unswerving AI.
"All haste and as silent as a cat wearing socks on a velvet carpet."
"Quick, let's get into some dry clothes, said John to Cleopatra."
"Thank you John, that was some ride. But not the kind of bath I had in mind."
Helpfully, Dan came to their rescue with two insulated, breathable one piece sailing suits.
"Dan, you marvel, you."
Cleopatra was shivering. John toweled her off, then gave her a big warm-up hug.
"Well done you marvel, you. Now get into this quickly, and have something to eat and drink."
"They tortured me John."
John could see for himself that Cleopatra had been roughly handled. He worked hard not to tear up, channeling his anger, to thinking on their next move.
"Bastards," John said under his breath.
The Elizabeth Swann sailed away from Cuban waters in stealth mode, her hull low in the water, hoping to find a remote island location where Cleopatra might be safe. She had indeed been tortured, physically and mentally, but the time traveled lovers were once again united. For the present.
John would have to be smarter from now on.
GUANTÁNAMO BAY - Of serious international concern, because of the Human Rights violations that echo the Gestapo and Nazi Germany. This installation represents a challenge to John Storm. Except that John has access to the whole installation, cameras, staffing levels and positions. Thanks to the CyberCore nano-super-computer. ESCAPE ROUTE - Having neutralized the CIA's missile and drone attacks, the Elizabeth Swann cruises between the islands of Jamaica and Haiti.
MISSILE LOCK >>>>>
STEALTH MODE - Stealth mode helps the Elizabeth Swann get close to Guantánamo Bay camp, but not to evade missiles approaching from high above. If it was not for the quick thinking of John Storm, and technical prowess of Dan Hawk, they would have been toast.
MISSILE ATTACK - Having rescued Cleopatra, the CIA make an unauthorized attack on the Elizabeth Swann. Dan connects the CyberCore super computer to the onboard AI, Hal, who is then able to hack NORAD, and re-program the missiles to target un-occupied buildings at Guantánamo Bay.
COLLABORATIVE DEVELOPMENT: The chapters of this story are published live for collaboration development purposes, with a sequence derived from the Chapters below, supplemented with other (unpublished) writings and/or illustrations as we progress. The final order for the proposed screenplay or graphic novel may be the subject of additional drafts to suit production of any movie (producers/directors/actors).
THE BATTLE OF ACTIUM - Queen Cleopatra retreats leaving Mark Antony to lose against Octavian and seek a new deal with Rome. THE POISON ASP - Hotfoot from Actium, Cleopatra's plan to seduce Octavian backfired leading to a suicide pact with Anubis and Isis TANZANIA - THE STORM BREAKS - Fanatical DNA collector, John Storm, finds Homo erectus skull, Olduvia Gorge, in Tanzanian dig site. WRATH OF THE GODS - 365BC destruction of Thonis and Alexandria, Anubis and Isis watch on in horror as Cleopatra is submerged. WWII ENIGMA - The birth of computers at Bletchley Park under Alan Turing, and his visits from Anubis and Isis, who see the potential in his ideas. SYDNEY WILL READING - John's uncle Douglas vanished, declared dead, the adventurer inherits keys and a note from George Franks. ANGEL OF DEATH - Anubis and Isis occupy Josef Mengele's and Adolf Hitler's subconscious as spirits steering their legacies. INNER CIRCLE OF SIX - Joseph Mengele's Fourth Reich plans an escape to Brazil to develop Nazi-funded human research laboratories. NELSON BAY - John visits the coordinates George gave him, to discover the Elizabeth Swann, ARK and Hal, AI computer. BRAZIL BOUND - Doctor Death bargains for funding and logistics of relocation to Amazon South American base via Argentina. NEW WORLD ORDER - A former Neo-Nazi plan to regenerate Aryan supremacy, develops into a cause for good. REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE - Having reached the end of his PhD, William and Jane Bates have epiphanies, Will should follow his dream. ROADBLOCK - Nobody would fund his R&D, William and Jane Bates are blanked by DARPA, computer and software houses. THE AFTERLIFE - Cleopatra's tomb lay lost for centuries submerged and out of sight with little change of discovery. QUANTUM LEAP - Jane and Will find backers, then US military and computer processor chip makers cyber attack, hack and bug them. WASHING MACHINE - Inventor Franco Francisco comes up with the Incubus, artificial uterus concept while repairing his household appliance. EXIT STRATEGY - Realising they will always be a target from industrial and military espionage, Jane & Will devise a cunning plan. PATENT APPLICATION - Franco Francisco files his Claims with the Italian Intellectual Property Office (IPO) in Roma, Italia. CYBERCORE GENETICA - Nano computer technology is purchased at an auction by a semi religious sect, New World Order. INCUBUS - Roberta Ferrara secures the expertise of Franco Francisco for knights of the New World Order: Neuwelt Rittertum. SPLICE - Klaus and Eva von Kolreuter find a way to live forever using cloning technology; Genonimo Investments, Geneva. TREMORS - Cleopatra's feels vibrations after a shift in the tectonic plates triggered a tremor off the coast of Alexandria. PANAMANIAN RUNNING MAN - The secret is out, an enhanced human is spotted running at unbelievable speeds. THE ARK - NeuWelt Rittertum headhunt John Storm seeking access to his genetic DNA map of life on earth, but they fail to reach agreement. MARJORIE BOYLE - Sam Hollis tracks down sexy backpacker, Majorie Boyle, to Brighton Point in Trinidad, beautiful Caribbean Island. THE AMAZON - Charley agrees to meet John & Dan at Manaus, but is a little too inquisitive. OPERATION LEVIATHAN - New World Knights, Klaus and Franco go to Plan 'B' to track and steal the Elizabeth Swann & The Ark DNA database. TOMB RAIDERS - Safiya Sabuka and Musa Bomani dive among sifting sands to discover precious artifacts and golden treasures. SCOTLAND YARD - The famous London DNA database is stolen, the biggest data heist to date. The Yard initiates a cover up. OPERATION ALEXANDRIA - Neo-Nazi occultists recover Cleopatra's sarcophagus from underwater tomb near Palace. SALVAGE RIGHTS - Entering Cleopatra's mausoleum, locating sarcophagus and raising with air bags to the surface, Safiya Sabuka tomb raider. COASTGUARD PATROL - Safiya and Musa surface off Alexandria to a waiting customs vessel, they pretend to be sports divers fooling the officials. UNESCO - Catholic Church fear grave desecration heritage theft, asks agencies for help. Interpol issue Red Notice. KIDNAP - Charley is taken prisoner but John rescues her, in the process becoming injected with a serum. SARCOPHAGUS OPENING - The wooden inner casket is opened revealing Cleopatra's mummy, golden crown and death mask, perfectly preserved. AWAKENING - In the afterlife, the DNA extracted from Cleopatra's mummy triggers a divine stirring with Anubis and Isis comforting the Nile Queen. REPLICANT - The Society reproduce Cleopatra using Francisco's RepliVator™, uploading synapse sequence and implanted memories. BRAIN CONDITIONING - Klaus and Franco upload digitally recreated memories in historical order to trigger correct learned synapse firing sequence REBORN - The former Queen of Egypt speaks for the first time to her creators, proving that her brain is working, the implants succeeded. FULL STEAM AHEAD - Storm speeds to Thonis, then uses the Swann's AI sensors and the Ark database to find tomb has been plundered. PROPOSAL - Baron von Richhofen's gambit, a union of Royal ancient and Aryan blood, for strength and intellect, a powerful heir as her successor RITUAL SACRIFICE - The Baron prepares a drugged Cleopatra for ceremonial impregnation. MANAUS TO ALEXANDRIA - A hydrogen powered race across the Atlantic Ocean in nine days, John Storm guided by Anubis and Isis. SANCTUM INTERRUPTUS - John finds secret Nazi hideout near Alexandria, disturbs ritual - rescues Cleopatra, arresting conspirators. THE CHOSEN ONE - The reincarnated Cleopatra falls for her rescuer. John comes under her spell, despite her being a replicant. MOVIES, WHAT ARE THEY - Reincarnated Nile Queen asks John and Dan to explain films, they show her 20th C. Fox 1963 Elizabeth Taylor biopic. MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE - John suggest a tour of the Wadj Ur, Thalassa Nostrum, to relax Cleopatra, Hal plans the ultimate experience. JOHN'S BLOODLINE - Dan and Hal trace trace John's noble lineage back to the iconic figures of Ancient Egypt & Roman General Mark Antony DÉJÀ VU - Dan and Hal reveal John's family tree as being related to Roman General Mark Antony via Julia and Queen Drusilla of Mauretania. MEDICAL EXAMINATION - Jack Mason talks John and Cleopatra into agreeing to a check up at Port Royal, Jamaica, working for NSA and CIA GEORGE WARNS OF TORTURE - Franks radios Swann to tell John & Dan that New World Knights are being tortured at Guantánamo Bay, you're next. JESUS CHRIST - Cleopatra asks about this man. John, Dan & Hal explain he is an ancient religious preacher from Galilee, son of Yahweh, Hebrew god. BIOCORE BRAIN IMPLANT - Dan and Cleopatra drill John's skull, occipital bone implanting biological chip to interface with CyberCore Genetica. DARPA, NSA & CIA - National security and military intelligence chiefs Iras Charmian and Dr Stefan Raengst, plot to remove all human obstacles. MILITARY INTERVENTION - The military detain Cleopatra to appease stakeholders, despite media & medical protests. Storm distraught. BATTLE ARMOUR - Thanks to some unexplained divine intervention, Dan Hawk talks John Storm into wearing a bullet proof suit. GUANTÁNAMO BAY - History repeats itself, US military kidnap Cleopatra, John forced to rescue puts Elizabeth Swann at risk. MISSION IMPOSSIBLE - Commander John Storm, in Navy SEAL mode, attacks the Cuban torture camp at Guantánamo Bay, in stealth mode, black op. MISSILE LOCK - USA military try to hack into Hal, anticipating a strike, as the DOD launch Tomahawks, John hacks into NORAD, and redirects them. PRESIDENT LINCOLN TRUMAN - Hails the Swann to find out why John is shooting missiles at Guantánamo Bay, Storm sets the record straight. FINALE
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The rights of Jameson Hunter and Cleaner Ocean Foundation to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988. This website and the Cleopatra artwork is Copyright © January 2025 Cleaner Ocean Foundation and Jameson Hunter.
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